Gubernatorial nominees weigh in on new state hospital

From the N&O, June 2:

Pat McCrory, the Republican candidate for governor, called on the state to keep Dix and Umstead open for a year to give the next governor a chance to bring in new leadership. "The hasty move to a new facility without adequate staffing and with design flaws only makes a bad situation worse," he said.

Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue, Democratic candidate for governor, said the new hospital isn't ready to open, but she said she did not agree on imposing a deadline of a year.

"I don't believe one patient should be moved to Central Regional until we have adequate staffing and the safety issues are resolved," she said.

McCrory criticized the Department of Health and Human Services for not publicizing the results of work groups Benton appointed and said the work group report on the new hospital should be made public.